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nslation and translation quality are first and foremost very volatile concepts. A few scholars can be summoned to back this opinion.
House (1976:64), for instance, opines that translation “quality assessment can never be completely objectified in the manner of the
results of natural science subjects”. In like manner, Pym (1998) asserts that the scenario will continue to be intriguing given that there is
no “perfect” translation or intended purpose (skopos). Finally, Muzii (2006) states that even if “features and scope must be specified”, the
attempt to strive for a single “all-encompassing metric is not only troublesome”, but can “also be useless as a simple metric would not
reveal all problems”. Hence, the widespread concept of quality assessment will continue to be a relative one (due to cultural specificity)
despite the laborious enterprise of having crafted and used metrics, rubrics and models. In other words, there is, and shall continue to
be incontestable translation quality assessment provincialisation/balkanisation, mindful of the strong concept of culture-specificity. That
makes it germane to make an apologia for a cautious and contextualised application of metrics, rubrics and models to translation quality
assessment.
REFERENCES
Aaltonen, S. (1993). “Rewriting the Exotic: The Manipulation of Otherness in Translated Drama”. In Catriona P. (ed.), Proceedings of XIII
FIT World Congress, 26-33. London, Institute of Translation and Interpreting.
Aaltonen, S. (2000). Time-sharing on stage: Drama translation in theatre and society. Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Sydney: Multilingual
Matters Ltd.
Ade Ojo, S. (1986). “The role of the translator of African written literature in intercultural consciousness and relationships”. Facets of
literary translation. Meta, XXI, 3. Canada: Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal.
Ali Darwish (1999). Translation Quality Evaluation for the New Millennium, at-turjuman online, 1999. Writescope Publishers. Melbourne.
Ali Darwish. (1999). Towards a theory of constsraints in translation. Draft Version 0.2.
Ali Darwish. (2001). The Translator’s Guide. Ali Darwish. Writescope: Melbourne. 450 pp.
Al-Qinai, J. (2000). “Translation quality assessment: strategies, parameters, and procedures”, Meta XLV:3, pp. 497-519.
Antonopoulou, E. (2002). “A cognitive Approach to literary humour Devices: Translating Raymond Chandler”. In Vandaele, J. (ed.),
Translating Humour. The Translator, Vol. 8, Number 2 (2002), 149-172. United Kingdom:St. Jerome.
Attardo, S. (1994). Linguistic Theories of Humour. Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 4, [MUP], 1972)
Baker, M. (1992). In Other Words - A Coursebook on Translation. London: Routlegde.
Bandia, P. (1993). “On Translating Pidgins and Creoles in African Literature. Traduction, Terminologie, Redaction 6-2, 94-114.
Bandia, P. (1993). “Translation as Culture Transfer: Evidence from African Creative Writing,” Traduction, Terminologie, Redaction 6-2,
55-78.
Bassnett, S. (1991). Translating for the theatre: The case against ‘performability’. In TTR, Vol. 1, No 4, 99-111.
Bassnett, S. (1991). Translation studies. London: Routlegde.
Beaugrande, R. de. (1978). Factors in a theory of poetic translating. Assen: van Gorcum.
Beeby, A. (2000). Teaching translation from Spanish to English. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.
Bell, R. (1987). Translation theory: where are we going? In Meta 32, 4:403-415.
Berman. A. (1985b/2000). Translation and the trials of the foreign, L. Venuti (trans.), ‘La traduction comme épreuve de l’etranger’, Texte
(1985):67-81), in L. Venuti (ed.) (2000).
Bjornson, R. (2002). “Writing and popular culture in Cameroon”. In Newell, S. (ed.), Readings in African popular fiction, 71-76. London:
The International African Institute.
Boase-Beier, J. & Holman, M. (eds.). (1998). The practices of literary translation: Constraints and creativity. United Kingdom: St.
Jerome.
Brislin, R. (ed.). (1976). The Implication of Culture on Translation Theory and Practice. Translation: Applications and research, 47-92.
New York: Gardiner Press.
Catford, J. (1965). A Linguistic Theory of Translation. London, Oxford UP,
Crystal, D. (1987). The Cambridge encyclopedia of language. Cambridge, England: CUP.
Darah, G. G. (1982). Battles of songs: A case study of satire in the Udje dance-songs of the Urhobo of Nigeria. Ph.D thesis,
Department of English, University of Ibadan.
26 | Translation Journal - July 2015
House (1976:64), for instance, opines that translation “quality assessment can never be completely objectified in the manner of the
results of natural science subjects”. In like manner, Pym (1998) asserts that the scenario will continue to be intriguing given that there is
no “perfect” translation or intended purpose (skopos). Finally, Muzii (2006) states that even if “features and scope must be specified”, the
attempt to strive for a single “all-encompassing metric is not only troublesome”, but can “also be useless as a simple metric would not
reveal all problems”. Hence, the widespread concept of quality assessment will continue to be a relative one (due to cultural specificity)
despite the laborious enterprise of having crafted and used metrics, rubrics and models. In other words, there is, and shall continue to
be incontestable translation quality assessment provincialisation/balkanisation, mindful of the strong concept of culture-specificity. That
makes it germane to make an apologia for a cautious and contextualised application of metrics, rubrics and models to translation quality
assessment.
REFERENCES
Aaltonen, S. (1993). “Rewriting the Exotic: The Manipulation of Otherness in Translated Drama”. In Catriona P. (ed.), Proceedings of XIII
FIT World Congress, 26-33. London, Institute of Translation and Interpreting.
Aaltonen, S. (2000). Time-sharing on stage: Drama translation in theatre and society. Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Sydney: Multilingual
Matters Ltd.
Ade Ojo, S. (1986). “The role of the translator of African written literature in intercultural consciousness and relationships”. Facets of
literary translation. Meta, XXI, 3. Canada: Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal.
Ali Darwish (1999). Translation Quality Evaluation for the New Millennium, at-turjuman online, 1999. Writescope Publishers. Melbourne.
Ali Darwish. (1999). Towards a theory of constsraints in translation. Draft Version 0.2.
Ali Darwish. (2001). The Translator’s Guide. Ali Darwish. Writescope: Melbourne. 450 pp.
Al-Qinai, J. (2000). “Translation quality assessment: strategies, parameters, and procedures”, Meta XLV:3, pp. 497-519.
Antonopoulou, E. (2002). “A cognitive Approach to literary humour Devices: Translating Raymond Chandler”. In Vandaele, J. (ed.),
Translating Humour. The Translator, Vol. 8, Number 2 (2002), 149-172. United Kingdom:St. Jerome.
Attardo, S. (1994). Linguistic Theories of Humour. Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 4, [MUP], 1972)
Baker, M. (1992). In Other Words - A Coursebook on Translation. London: Routlegde.
Bandia, P. (1993). “On Translating Pidgins and Creoles in African Literature. Traduction, Terminologie, Redaction 6-2, 94-114.
Bandia, P. (1993). “Translation as Culture Transfer: Evidence from African Creative Writing,” Traduction, Terminologie, Redaction 6-2,
55-78.
Bassnett, S. (1991). Translating for the theatre: The case against ‘performability’. In TTR, Vol. 1, No 4, 99-111.
Bassnett, S. (1991). Translation studies. London: Routlegde.
Beaugrande, R. de. (1978). Factors in a theory of poetic translating. Assen: van Gorcum.
Beeby, A. (2000). Teaching translation from Spanish to English. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.
Bell, R. (1987). Translation theory: where are we going? In Meta 32, 4:403-415.
Berman. A. (1985b/2000). Translation and the trials of the foreign, L. Venuti (trans.), ‘La traduction comme épreuve de l’etranger’, Texte
(1985):67-81), in L. Venuti (ed.) (2000).
Bjornson, R. (2002). “Writing and popular culture in Cameroon”. In Newell, S. (ed.), Readings in African popular fiction, 71-76. London:
The International African Institute.
Boase-Beier, J. & Holman, M. (eds.). (1998). The practices of literary translation: Constraints and creativity. United Kingdom: St.
Jerome.
Brislin, R. (ed.). (1976). The Implication of Culture on Translation Theory and Practice. Translation: Applications and research, 47-92.
New York: Gardiner Press.
Catford, J. (1965). A Linguistic Theory of Translation. London, Oxford UP,
Crystal, D. (1987). The Cambridge encyclopedia of language. Cambridge, England: CUP.
Darah, G. G. (1982). Battles of songs: A case study of satire in the Udje dance-songs of the Urhobo of Nigeria. Ph.D thesis,
Department of English, University of Ibadan.
26 | Translation Journal - July 2015
